Family Farms

Cooking with Kids: Mothers’ Day Breakfast in Bed

Ask any mom what she wants most for Mother’s Day and she’ll probably say “a day off!” Letting her sleep in and be served breakfast in bed is a great start. It’s also a wonderful way for kids to flex their cooking skills…no matter what their age!

What kids can handle

Kids can usually do a lot more in the kitchen than you think. But no matter how capable they seem, always have an adult in charge in the kitchen. Here are some age-appropriate tasks they’ll have fun doing:

-Toddlers can wash fruit and tear herb or lettuce leaves for a fruit salad or garnish.

-6-9 year olds can crack and beat eggs, use a rolling pin, peel fruits and vegetables, scoop batter into muffin cups, make toast, grate cheeses, and use an electric mixer.

-10-year-olds on up can work pretty independently, but will need adult supervision to make sure they’re following safety rules.

Easy recipes to try together

Make-ahead recipes are ideal so there’s not too much noise in the kitchen in the morning, and Mom can sleep in (or at least pretend to!). Stratas, “overnight” French toast or muffins, or slow-cooker oatmeal recipes make great candidates.

No-cook recipes are a great choice for little ones, who can simply assemble a meal with pre-cooked or prepped ingredients. Even a toddler can:

– Decorate an open-faced English muffin with slices of hard boiled eggs and strips of precooked bacon.